Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-10-06
CHAPTER XIV.
HOLLOWAY PRIS IN.

IAN unusual type of character among
us, said the matron to the chaplain.
They were speaking of one only known
to the world now as No. Al Every
unusual II ever lady lived, she is
one.
Ladies very often make the same
kind OF mistake that she has made, but
not to such grave extent"
II have been matron here more than
ten years and | have never had one
under my charge like her. She has the
manner of perfectly well bred gentle
woman, the face of an angel, and !
may say, the goodness of a saint
''You seem to like No. A." said the
chaplain to the matron.
- do. sir; it would be impossible for
any one to help il who has much to do
with her. She came here last Septem-
Der, and this is June; we have never
had even the least fault to find with her.
have curious idea about her; / do
not believe thatif the prison doors were
opened she would care to go out"
THAT IS a curious idea, laughed the
chaplain.
1T is true, sir. Women can read
women; have had such long practice,
and have read so many bad ones. I'm
less | am more mistaken than l have
ever been before, there is a great mys-
terry in her life. She is go sweet and so
patient, she never complains. never re-
pines; if any one speaks rudely to her
she never resents it; if she has anything
to do with the other prisoners she is SO
kind, so patient, so gentle that they
perfectly idolize her.
"They not given to that kind of
thing as a rule" said the chap ain. 81
thought they invariably disliked any
one superior 10 themselves.
"They do not dislike her." said the
matron; "far from it. 1t seems difficult
to believe that delicate lady is thief. -"
at is ten thousand pities," said the
chaplain, the canker always seizes the
fairest flower.
"She is good woman" said the
matron. | can not tell you how often,
when | 90 to call her, find her on her
knees, and when she rises she has not
the face OF guilty sinner asking for
mercy, but rather of one who has gained
the mastery; it is the face of saint, not
q sinner"
/ should imagine" he said, "that
you soc her with rose colored glasses"
mo, it is all true" said the matron;
'there is no sham about it. The rule
enforces strict silence, as Won know, in
the cells; the other day had to see her
about some work she was doing and
went to her cell heard her singing,
quite under her breath, the most beau
tiful words
"N hat were they?" asked the chap
lain.
II am not quite sure il remember
them." answered the matron. 1T was
something like this:
80 Paradise! q Paradise
feel twill not be long:
Patience ] almost think hear
Sweet fragments of thy song,'"
''T-hey are beautiful words " said the
chaplain, gently.
"Sbe told me" continued the matron,
"that her mother died singing it, aud
there were tears in her eyes; they SEEM
ed different to any tears | have ever
seen before. | know" she continued,
that YOU will think / am enthusiastic
about her, but she is such a perfect con
trast to any one | have met with here
She speaks to me so kindly, so CRATE
fully for everything Sometimes, for a
day or two Mt time, she can not touch
the prison fare, but she never complains
of it. 1t is very NICE she will say,
but am not hungry to day."
Poor soul!' said the chaplain, com
passionately. at seems hard; but then
we can not have two laws-one for the
rich and one for the poor. There could
not be separate legislation for lady
thieves" and then, with few kindly
words, the chaplain said "Good morn
ing"
1t was not often that the practical,
sensible matron was so deeply interested
in a prisoner; II was the wonderfully
pathetic beauty of the prisoners face
that had at first attracted her.
Then she was present when the beau
tiful golden hair was discovered. and
she had seen the deep crimson bushes
that burned the fair face when all the
disguise was removed; and she stood
before the astonished attendants in all
the beauty Of her fair complexion and
ripping golden hair; before that hair
was cut, she caught it in her hands and
kissed It. 1t was like seeing her old
self again, and she whispered to herself
the names of Marguerite Nairue and
Marguerite Stair. The matron was
attracted by her demeanor. As a rule.
the generality Of women violently re-